Oskaloosa Sculpture Tour Cultivated By FACE
Jacob McGinn (left) sets his artwork titled “Take Off” to a concrete slab on Tuesday.
Oskaloosa, Iowa – “If art is to nourish the roots of our culture, society must set the artist free to follow his vision wherever it takes him… We must never forget that art is not a form of propaganda; it is a form of truth.” ~ John F. Kennedy
The vision of many artists found its way throughout Oskaloosa this past week, and even as late as Friday afternoon, FACE of Mahaska County and the artists were setting pieces of sculpture.
The timing of the official unveiling of the project is set for 4pm on the Square in Oskaloosa.
Jacob McGinn was finishing the installation of his piece, titled “Take Off,” along the bike trail on Tuesday afternoon. The creation started from an initial sketch, before being further refined on a computer.
After the design process, McGinn then used a cardboard model and the computer to further refine his design. “I’ll work on something, not like it, but I like a certain aspect of it.”
“I just sort of play with something for awhile, and it morphs into its own thing,” McGinn explained.
That revision process is what lead to the design, “but it looked kind of lonely,” said McGinn.
With the addition, McGinn said he was looking for “some movement” in the work, which lead to his naming of the piece.
McGinn’s professor at UNI made him aware of the show being hosted in Oskaloosa, and he says that such a project like the one being hosted in town is, “very cool.”
Sarah Kargol with FACE of Mahaska County has been eating, sleeping, and living sculpture all week in Oskaloosa, and was going to help install 4 works in total on Tuesday.
Sarah’s husband, Matt Kargol, has worked toward bringing this type of show to Oskaloosa. Kargol is a sculptor, and has been a participant of similar shows in other communities.
“It’s been on our public art vision to have a rotating sculpture tour in town,” added Sarah, who thanked the Golden Goose Club and the Daily Trust for making it possible. “It’s been marvelous.”
“It’s been really cool to see people react so positively to the artwork. They are excited about seeing them. They are curious about seeing them,” added Kargol.
Large paper maps to the sculpture locations will be available in windows around the square, and a digital version will be made available on the FACE website.
Each work is for sale by the artist, and the purchase prices will be available on the maps and website.
On Friday, at 4pm, FACE of Mahaska County welcomes everyone to the Bandstand for the official unveiling of the show.
You can find out more about FACE of Mahaska County and the tour by visiting http://www.faceofmahaska.com/
